Humankind has always thrived on its “awareness instinct,” an innate nature to want know what lies beyond the hill and, more commonly, what awaits a person in the future. As a result, psychic readings have had a consistent place in history, providing answers for all of life’s weighing questions that leave us most confounded.
Early history shows that astrology was the most prevalent form of psychic readings, with prophets or oracles (the term “psychic” wasn’t coined until the 1870s) determining future events by analyzing the positions of stars and planets in the night sky. These celestial phenomena were once thought to hold great value as indicators of fortune, providing a glimpse into the past and future in hopes that, with this new insight, one could restructure the framework of their life.
Today we still use astrology, though its use has been regarded as less practical and more recreational.Psychics have attracted a certain amount of flack since the 19th century, largely because their work is not one that can be evaluated scientifically. Some have been exiled from communities and harassed for their use of supernatural ability, enduring treatment not unlike that experienced by witches.
In contemporary settings, the word “psychic” now finds strength in the implied ability to use extrasensory perception to gather information otherwise unavailable to the common person. The modern psychic is fortunate enough to have fair portrayals in mainstream culture, with shows like “Medium” and “Ghost Whisperer” providing favorable portrayals of the lives of those gifted with clairvoyant abilities.
This is a stark contrast to time periods where, like with the Salem Witch Trials, psychics were sentenced to death for what they deemed to be the “work of the devil.”Psychics are perhaps more widespread than ever, thanks to social media tools and populous urban centers where psychics are more accessible and common. And though there continue to be naysayers in academia and religious institutions, modern psychics face a much more conducive working environment.
These clairvoyants will – without a doubt – continue to face skepticism from critics as time marches on, but the mainstream is expected to continue embracing psychic readings, if for the sole reason that many ordinary individuals have themselves played witness to premonitions or fortunes through dreams. As people continue to seek answers about everyday head-scratchers like the “maternal instinct” and startling, unexpected visions, psychics will continue to provide relief and remain prosperous as both service providers and truth-seekers.